TIGER
Tube Interface Guard for Extubation and Ranging

“Every breath matters—TIGER ensures it’s protected.”

CATEGORY

Medical Devices • Airway Management • ICU Safety • Patient Monitoring

OPERATIONAL RELEVANCE

Unplanned extubation is a critical threat in both military and civilian trauma settings, contributing to preventable morbidity, mortality, and excess healthcare costs. The TIGER system enhances airway safety in high-risk environments by providing real-time detection and alerts for endotracheal tube displacement. This simple, non-invasive technology is well-suited for field hospitals, military ICUs, and transport scenarios where monitoring and rapid intervention are essential.

TECHNOLOGY SUMMARY

TIGER is a lightweight, attachable device that uses RFID-enabled sensors to track the position of an endotracheal tube relative to its original secured placement. If the tube shifts beyond a defined threshold, the system triggers an immediate alarm. The design is retrofit-compatible, requiring no changes to the tube lumen or ventilator interface, and can be integrated into standard face-bar hardware. 

MILITARY-ALIGNED BENEFITS

• Reduces critical airway incidents during combat casualty evacuation, improving survivability.
• May be adapted for other high-risk tube types requiring secure placement and real-time monitoring (e.g., NG tubes, chest tubes)
• Supports rapid response by immediately alerting personnel to airway displacement, crucial during transport or in austere environments.
• Minimizes operational disruption with a low-profile, non-invasive, retrofit-compatible design.
• Enhances medical readiness, reducing complications and shortening ICU stays, ultimately supporting quicker return-to-duty timelines.

USE SCENARIOS

Casualty Care: Immediate airway monitoring during tactical evacuations and forward surgical 
interventions.

Aeromedical Evacuation: Continuous, reliable monitoring under vibration and turbulence in 
helicopter and fixed-wing transports.

Forward Surgical Teams: Airway protection in austere environments with limited medical personnel 
and resources.

Military ICU & Trauma Units: Reducing airway-related incidents in high-demand, high-risk clinical 
settings.

Integration with Advanced Monitoring Systems: Real-time data and predictive analytics for 
broader casualty-care platforms

TECHNOLOGY READINESS & IP

• Technology ID: LSUHSC-S-2024-010
• TRL: 2 – Concept defined; preliminary prototype tested on manikins using third-party RFID clamps
• Status: IRB protocol in preparation for human study
• Patent Status: Patent pending

Collaboration Opportunity

We are seeking partners to:

• Co-develop and clinically validate the TIGER airway monitoring system in military and civilian trauma care settings
• Conduct prototype testing in simulated and real-world transport scenarios
• Integrate TIGER with existing critical-care monitoring platforms
• Collaborate through CRADA, SBIR/STTR, or military medical technology initiatives
• Align development efforts with DoD airway management and combat casualty care priorities